Saturday, 6 August 2016

Best moth got away

Probably the best moth on the night of 3rd July got away, though I'm still hoping to recover it. It was an Acleris sp. of the comariana/laterana type. Every such Acleris I've ever checked has been laterana - I'm yet to see a confirmed (or even suspected) comariana. But this was early (my earliest laterana so far is late July) and comariana starts flying early. There had to be a good chance this was my first Stawberry Tortrix Acleris comariana. I took one photo, went to take a better one and it scuttled. It didn't exaclty fly, just fluttered along the desktop to a pile of papers. I lifted the edge of the papers expecting to see it, but nothing. I went through the pile piece by piece checking each one until I got to the bottom, and the moth still hadn't appeared! I suspect it was on its last legs and may still be in my study somewhere. Maybe when I have a good spring clean I'll find it... That might be a while!

Acleris laterana agg., North Elmham, 3rd July - in view of the date perhaps most likely Strawberry Tortrix Acleris comariana, but got away before it could be confirmed